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None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell Book Review

Reasons For Reading This Book:

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell was Jackie's choice for February 2024 for The Readhead's podcast book club. I knew going into this book that is was a thriller and that it centered around a podcast. Other than that I started the book without any other knowledge about it. 

Content of This Book:

Josie and Alex meet on the night of their forty-fifth birthday while they are both celebrating at the same pub. Even though they are birthday twins and were born in the same hospital, nothing about them is the same, not even the way they are celebrating their birthday's. Alex is with her husband and a group of friends, while Josie is just with her husband at a pub they would normally not go to. Upon learning that they are birthday twins, Josie becomes interested in Alex's podcast and presents to her the idea of sharing her life story on Alex's podcast. The women strike up a complicated relationship that centers around the podcast interviews and Josie inserting herself into Alex's life. Prior to her interviews with Josie, Alex's podcast's subject was telling the triumphant stories of women. Unlike the previous podcast episodes, Josie has not accomplished or overcome a significant life hurtle, instead she pulls Alex into her dark and twisted life of lies. In hopes of learning and producing Josie's interviews for her podcast, Alex allows Josie to become too intertwined in her life and it leads to Alex being the subject of her own true crime podcast. Like the title states, 'None of This Is True', is full of lies and dark secrets. 


What I Liked About This Book:

The ability to keep me interested in the plot and wanting to discovery more, was the most likable part of this book for me. I was also a fan of the organization of the book, but I did at times find the timestamps to not be all that helpful or useful. I get the point of breaking it up that way as that is a common tool used in thrillers, but at times it interrupted the flow. On the podcast and within the bookclub there was discussion on whether people liked or disliked that title. Some liked it because it instantly made them doubt Josie and other readers did not like it because they felt it gave away too much to the reader that they are supposed to be suspicious the whole time. I personally liked this because it is a reminder that in most thrillers there is a character you should not trust. Also I have read enough thrillers that I do this anyway so I did not mind it and actually thought it was a clever choice. Another praise that I will give Lisa Jewell is for her descriptions. While reading, it felt as though I was watching a movie or series. The physical and emotional descriptions were vivid and detailed so that I could picture exactly what was happening. Even though I am not from London I could still picture the pubs, neighborhood, townhouses and other parts of the area. From the start I had clear images of Josie, Alex, Walter, Nathan and all the kids. I could even smell the stanch that was constantly referred to when talking about Erin's bedroom. 


What I Disliked About This Book:

I have a feeling that the author intended this, but I was extremely frustrated and annoyed by the characters almost the entire time. In my opinion the ending was rushed and left me with questions that were not answered. While reading I also had questions relating to the plot that were never made clear with an answer. On plot point that really annoyed me that was never made clear was why Erin only ate soft food and baby food. While listening to the podcast episode it was suggested that this was related to a diagnosis that she had, but that did not fully give reason for why she did this. There were other hints to why this was her preferred way of eating but again it was never clearly spelled out. There were other things that were brought up at the end of the book that suggested that the reader was still not privy to all that had happened in the time Josie and Walter were married. As someone who is from America, I did not fully understand all of the British references or slang. In the end this really didn't seem to effect my ability to comprehend the plot so if you too are not well versed in British culture there is not need to worry. 


Would I Recommend This Book?

Overall I really did enjoy this thriller and do recommend it. It is not my favorite thriller of all time, but it is definitely worth the read and is also a perfect selection for a book club because there is so much conversation that can be had surrounding the book. 

Check out my book reviews for 2024!!


Check out my book reviews for 2023!!

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
Hester by Laurie Pico Albanese
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Environmental and Sustainability Book Reviews 2022
Self-Improvement Book Reviews 2022
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Not All Diamonds and Rosé by Dave Quinn
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham 
Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman
Run, Rose, Run by James Patterson and Dolly Parton
The Summer Series by Jenny Han
A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard
The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives by Brian Moylan
Verity by Colleen Hoover
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart 
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Majesty: American Royals 2 by Kathrine McGree
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Check out my book reviews for 2021!!

2021 Book Rankings

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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Educated by Tara Westover
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins 
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins 
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Klara and the Sun 
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
American Duchess by Karen Harper 
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Girl With No Job by Claudia Oshry
Down the Habit Hole by Holly Madison Book Review
My Story by Elizabeth Smart
Layla by Colleen Hoover

Check out my book reviews for 2020!!

Check out my book reviews for 2019!!

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